Smith and Head give Australia control over India

Third Test, Brisbane (day two of five)

Australia 405-7: Head 152, Smith 101

India: Yet to bat

Scorecard

Centuries from Steve Smith and Travis Head put Australia on top despite a late burst from India's Jasprit Bumrah on day two of the third Test in Brisbane.

Smith and Head came together at 75-3 and shared a near-chanceless 241 for the fourth wicket, before Bumrah removed both and Mitchell Marsh with the second new ball at the Gabba.

Smith made 101 to end a run of 26 innings without a Test century, while Head crashed 152 off 160 balls for his second successive ton.

Bumrah returned to complete his 12th five-wicket haul in Tests, having earlier removed openers Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney.

Alex Carey and Pat Cummins shared 58 before the latter was dismissed late in the day as Australia reached 405-7 at stumps.

The five-match series is level at 1-1 after Australia's 10-wicket win in Adelaide last week.

India must win at least two of the final three Tests to guarantee a place in June's World Test Championship final at Lord's.

Defending champions Australia will reach the final if they win two of the remaining Tests.

After only 13.2 overs were possible on day one, more rain is forecast for the remainder of the game.

Smith and Head extend superb record against India

Smith's latest century, his first since the second Ashes Test at Lord's in June 2023, is his 10th in 41 innings against India, matching Joe Root's record, achieved in 55 innings.

After only 19 runs in three innings in the series, there was pressure on Smith, and he started scratchily and survived an lbw review when playing no shot to Mohammed Siraj.

His half-century came almost exclusively on the leg side, before he grew in confidence and played drives down the ground, through the covers and behind square.

He moved from his half-century to ton in only 57 balls as he made his 33rd Test century, moving him outright second on Australia's all-time list, eight behind Ricky Ponting.

Acceleration was also a key part of Head's innings as the left-hander moved from 20 at lunch to a century by the tea interval.

The second half of his century came in just 44 balls, latching particularly well on to any length offered to pull and upper cut to the boundary.

A third of Head's Test centuries are now against India, which, combined with his match-winning 137 in last year's 50-over World Cup final, has earned him the nickname 'Travis Headache' in India, according to former head coach Ravi Shastri on the TV coverage.

Bumrah offers India hope

Bumrah's brilliance is nothing new but, even by his standards, he has been superb in this series.

He has claimed 17 wickets at an average of 12.17, while conceding a measly 2.62 runs an over.

He struck in the fourth and sixth overs of the day to have Usman Khawaja caught behind and Nathan McSweeney, whom he has dismissed four times in the series, taken at second slip.

Smith and Marnus Labuschagne then battled through a 15-over period before the latter was caught at second slip off Nitish Kumar Reddy, the over after Siraj had switched the bails around to try to bring a change of luck.

India were arguably on top then, but Head and Smith took the initiative away and heads did drop in the tourists' camp.

There was a lack of energy and noise for much of the second session as Australia added 130 runs - and that mood continued until Bumrah returned.

He had Smith caught at first slip in his second over, before Marsh was smartly caught by Virat Kohli at second slip and Head feathered a thin edge through to Rishabh Pant.

That offered India a route back in, but Carey's unbeaten 45 ensured Australia ended the day in control.

'Nice to keep the ball rolling' - what they said

Steve Smith on TNT Sports: "It was nice to get in and feel good. I've been feeling good; I just haven't been able to get in and get through my work.

"Heady makes things look really easy and I'm just up the other end doing my thing. The scoreboard moves so quickly with him, it is beautiful to watch. It is the best seat in the house."

Travis Head on TNT Sports: "It is nice to keep the ball rolling. I felt like I've been playing well in the first two Tests, but nothing is guaranteed, so it was nice to come out and contribute to a partnership and the day.

"It is a nice wicket. It was challenging with the new ball and they bowled really well, but our partnership helped and we worked well together."